EPAL takes steps toward digitizing world’s largest open pallet pool
Consider that the standard Euro pallet is the most important load carrier in the European logistics sector. Many systems encompassing conveyor and storage technology, handling and packaging are designed to work with EPAL Euro pallets. In Europe alone, the Association has over 500 million pallets in circulation. With this obvious opportunity at hand, EPAL has joined in a venture towards digitizing its pool.
“The logistics sector is based on the pallet. Making these intelligent means making the logistics sector intelligent. Intelligent pallet networks are a milestone on the way to the Internet of Things which can leverage the real data potential of the logistics sector”, comments Professor Dr Michael ten Hompel, Managing Director of the Fraunhofer IML, a partner in the project.
The demand for load carriers that can be automatically traced and controlled is currently rapidly increasing thanks to Industry 4.0. The most important tool is a new interactive pallet, which not only serves as a load carrier but also as an information carrier. It is also in able use smart devices to communicate in a decentralized network. In an integrated total system of 500 million pallets, there is a business case, which includes a corresponding IT infrastructure as well as
the development of suitable apps for mobile end devices.
“Cooperation with the Fraunhofer IML gives us access to experts who have comprehensive know-how at their fingertips, both in technology development and drafting business cases. So the Institute for us, as operator of the world’s largest pallet pool, is the ideal partner to help us reach the digital future”, explains Robert Holliger, President of EPAL.
The application of communicating pallets shown at the recent LogiMAT show is based on the wireless technology “NarrowBand IoT”. This solution has been developed as part of the joint research activities of the Fraunhofer IML and Deutsche Telekom (the German telecommunications company), at the recently founded “Telekom Open IoT Lab”.
“It has become evident, that NarrowBand IoT is the perfect technology for implementing the Internet of Things in the logistics sector. The technology transfer at our Fraunhofer Lab Center was logical and impressively demonstrates the advantages of interdisciplinary research in one place," says ten Hompel.
EPAL first displayed this technology at the 2018 Logimat show in Germany.
MARCH 2018